Chandigarh Adviser Dharam Pal meets Afghan students, extends support

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 14

A delegation of the Afghan Students Unity Group in Chandigarh, accompanied by Pramod Sharma, founder, Yuvsatta (Youth for Peace), an NGO, met UT Adviser Dharam Pal here today.

Dharma Pal welcomed the students and extended all support by calling Prof Raj Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, to help them in these hours of crisis with tuition fee waivers and hostel support. He also asked Dr Amandeep Kang, Director, Health Services (DHS), to extend free treatment for Afghan nationals in city’s government hospitals and dispensaries.

The Adviser also gave a call to city NGOs to come forward and extend all possible support to Afghan friends in these critical times.

Recalling age-old ties with Afghanistan, the Adviser said: “India and Afghanistan share a long history of friendly cultural and societal ties, which can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilisation. So in these challenging times, these young people from Afghanistan should not feel abandoned in India. Moreover, Indian people are known for their warmth and hospitality world over.”

Thanking Dharam Pal, Abdul Monir Kakar, founder, Afghan Students Unity Group in Chandigarh, said after meeting the Adviser today, they’re feeling at home and amidst friends for the first day in the past one month of mental and financial trauma.